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C. S. THOMPSON.

GAME APPARATUS.

No. 286.868. Patented oct. 16.1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESl S. THOMPSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF 'IO JOHN WANAMAKER, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,868, dated October 16, 1883. Application filed September 3, 1883. (No model.)

'To aJZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, OHARLRs S. THOMR soN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists, mainly, of a game apparatus in which a table having a number of pockets is combined with a reservoir for containing a number of balls, and with devices for forcibly expelling the same from the reservoir to a distance abovethe table, onto which they will fall, each ball `in rolling over the table either entering one of the pockets or rolling clear ofthe same. rEhe pockets are numbered, so that each player who operates the expelling devices may, by noting the balls which have found their way into the pockets, determine the count to be charged to him.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the game apparatus;

Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 sectional plan on Vthe line l 2.

To a suitable base, A, is secured the lower end of a tubular post, B, and to the upper end of the latter is attached4 the table D, which is edged with a rim, a, and which is preferably of the circular form shown.

In the upper surface of the table are a number of pockets, in which balls rolling over the said surface may find a lodgment. The interior of the post forms the chamber w, for containing the balls. y

The table and chamberedpost are combined with a device by which the balls (they may be ordinary marbles) may be expelled forcibly upward, as shown in Fig. l, the device consisting in the present instance of a bloclr, E, fitting freely in the chamber w, and connected to a spiral spring, f, lodged in the bottom of the chamber, the block having pins e, projecting through slots-in the post, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

A trigger, G, contained partly within a vertical slot in the post, has one arm pivoted within an angular projection adapted to a arm of the trigger in the notch of the block. 5 5 On depressing the block E by applying the ingerand thumb to the projecting pins e, the projection on the trigger will `enter the notch in the said block, and a numberv of balls may be deposited in the chamber w, as shown in Fig. 2. On releasing the block E by operating the trigger, the compressed spring will recoil, and through the medium of the block will forcibly expel the balls, which will fall onto the surface of the table, each ball either entering one of the pockets or remaining clear of the same on the table.

Devices other than those described for projecting the balls from the chamber fw will readily suggest themselves to expert mechanics; but 'the devices shown are simple and effective.

The pockets in the table should be numbered, for the reason above given, and to increase the interest of the game differently! colored balls may be used, and differentlycolored pockets, so that if a ball should accidentally roll into a pocket of its own color it may increase or diminish the count, as the players may determine.-

It is best to make the surface of the table' rather higher in the center than elsewhere, so as to prevent the balls from rolling into the tubular post. A

I claim yas my inventionl. A game apparatus in which the following elements are combined, namely: first, a table in the surface of which are anumber of pockets, second, a chamber below the table for containing a number of balls; and, third, devices ,wherebyv the said balls may be expelled from the reservoir and thrown upward abover the table, so as to fall thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the table D, tubular post E, and baseA with a block, E, and spring F, anda device i'or retaining and releasing the block, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the tubular post and springF with the block E, having pins projecting through slots in the said post, substantiallyas specied.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

CHARLES s. THOMPSON.

HARRY L. ASHENFELTER, HENRY HowsoN, Jr.

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